Politics & Government
DNR Commissioner Rips 'Woefully Behind' Minnesota Lawmakers
The agency says 192 of its buildings are in crisis or unacceptable condition, and 520 are in poor condition, thanks to lack of funds.
Department of Natural Resources commissioner Tom Landwehr says the Minnesota Legislature is "woefully behind" in funding the agency's desperate maintenance needs and is jeopardizing outdoor experiences for the more than 10 million people who visit state parks each year.
Funds needed for clean drinking water and functional bathrooms are not being met at DNR facilities, according to the DNR.
"More than 100 miles of state trails are in need of repairs; some are in such poor condition that bicyclists avoid crumbling and rutted sections entirely," Landwehr said in a statement.
Find out what's happening in Across Minnesotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"The agency is hoping to secure bonding funds for resurfacing, culvert and bridge replacements, and accessibility improvements for the Sakatah, Root River, Gateway, Willard Munger, and Blufflands state trails."
The agency also says 192 of its buildings are in crisis or unacceptable condition, and 520 are in poor condition.
Find out what's happening in Across Minnesotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Some DNR forest road or trail bridges are weight restricted due to structural deterioration over time – meaning logging trucks and grooming vehicles can’t use them.
As part of his 2018 Public Works bill, Gov. Mark Dayton is asking the Legislature to invest $130 million in "urgently needed improvements" to the DNR’s buildings and other infrastructure.
The House of Representatives this session proposed $30 million for the DNR’s natural resources asset preservation; the Senate has not released its bonding proposal.
The DNR has issued several plans for fixing its infrastructure, and according to a recently completed facility assessment, the agency has more than $35 million of building components that are in unacceptable or poor condition.
The DNR also has hundreds of millions of dollars of other investments it says are needed over the next decade to prevent asset failures like the broken water line at Jay Cooke State Park near Duluth.
Repair costs increase about eight percent annually, so addressing these problems now saves the state money over the long term, according to Landwehr.
Image via Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
